Pope Francis arrived in Portugal today, Wednesday, for a five-day visit where he promised to "change things" in the Catholic Church, as he moves to implement reforms and changes that could leave an unforgettable legacy. The Pope's plane landed at a military base in Lisbon for the World Youth Day, held every two to three years in a different city. On board the flight from Rome, the Pope told reporters, "We will continue to change things."
Pope Francis emphasized that the Church must undergo "continuous purification" and always listen to the victims, following months of a report that included harsh criticisms regarding sexual abuse in Portugal. He addressed bishops, priests, and nuns, discussing the "growing distance today from practicing faith," which is sometimes exacerbated by widespread disappointment and anger over "the stumbles that have marred our face," referring to the global abuse crisis and other scandals.
Pope Francis's first stop will be to attend a welcome ceremony hosted by the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, at the Belem Palace. The World Youth Day takes place in Portugal, where about 80 percent of the population are Catholics, less than six months after a Portuguese committee reported that at least 4,185 minors had been sexually abused by clergy, mainly priests, over the past seventy years.
The Pope is expected to meet privately with some victims of those abuses. The visit is overshadowed by the scandal of sexual abuse by clergy and criticisms over the high cost of hosting the event. Some Portuguese have criticized the cost amid financial hardships faced by millions due to low wages, high inflation, and a housing crisis in one of Western Europe's poorest countries. This is Pope Francis's first visit since undergoing surgery in June, and he uses a wheelchair and a cane while walking.
